Shimla. Sir Hugh Rose's Bungalow at Mahasso
1866
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1866
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a quiet hillside bungalow wrapped in trees, sunlight dappling the white walls and red roof. This photo was taken in the 1860s, when British officers built summer homes in the Himalayas to escape the heat. The image is one of the earliest records of Shimla before roads and crowds changed it. The soft light and sharp details make the scene feel still, as if the house is waiting for the next monsoon. Look up other photos in the same album—search for Samuel Bourne (British, 1834–1912).
